UAV comprising a sensing system for detection and identification of biological particles
US7073748B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2101/35
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a unmanned aerial vehicle that includes a sensing system for the detection and limited identification of biological agents. The system is small, light weight, requires little power to operate and uses few consumables. The system incorporates elements that enable it to obtain an air sample, extract particulates from the air sample and retain them on a stationary-phase collection media, exposes the particulates to electromagnetic radiation, and monitor the particulates for fluorescent emissions. To the extent that fluorescent emissions are detected and exceed a predetermined value, an alarm is triggered. In some embodiments, in addition to performing real-time analyses on the extracted particulates, the collection media is removed from the system and the sample is subjected to more detailed analysis via additional equipment. Various sample-collecting regions on the collection media are “time stamped” or “location stamped” so that it can determined when and/or where each sample that is being analyzed “off-line” was obtained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.